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Rollers stay top

Township Rollers have kept their title defending hopes buzzing after thumping Gaborone United (GU) 3-1 in an encounter which was played in Gaborone over the weekend.

A brace from Segolame Boy and Alphonse Modisaotsile’s late own goal ensured Rollers stay atop of the BTC premiership league table while GU’s sole goal was scored by Kabelo Seakanyeng. ‘Popa’ as Rollers is affectionately known hold pole position of the BTC premiership with 57 points out of 26 encounters. They are yet to play Security Systems, Union Flamengo Santos, Miscellaneous and Extension Gunners.

It is however not going to be an easy ride for Popa to defend the league title as only three points separate them from the second placed Jwaneng Galaxy. The Jwaneng based outfit defeated Sankoyo Bush bucks 2-0 with goals from Thero Setsile and Atisang Batshi to stay in the race for the coveted title. Galaxy has 54 points and has played an equal 26 games with Rollers. They will clash with Gaborone United, Security Systems, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and BDF XI in their next encounters.

Coaches’ interpretation of the weekend game:

Rollers coach Nikola Kavazovic, after their encounter with GU said; “First of all I would like congratulate GU, they are an amazing team and are definitely a top three team in Botswana. We all know their problems but I hope they will be resolved soon for them to be back in competition next season.”

Kavazovic however pointed it out that it was his side that deserved to emerge victorious on the day as they had control of almost the whole encounter. He said Rollers will always park the bus and defend when they are in the lead, “I must say that I changed my philosophy a month ago, since I came to Rollers, I have wanted my team to play nice and beautiful football so that the supporters can be happy, now I don’t care about that,” he noted. “I have learnt that in Botswana it is the three points that matters most and at the end of the day we took three points and that finishes the story.”

Further, Kavazovic commended his second assistant coach Leutlwetse Tshireletso stating that he is going to be a big coach in the next two years. “He is hard working and has everything that a coach should have. He understands my football philosophy, everything that he is speaking I am speaking, I’m glad to have him as my assistant,” he stated. The usual assistant coach Mogomotsi Mpote was not in the bench with reports that he is on sick leave but those close to the team suggests that he is not in good books with Kavazovic.

GU caretaker coach Steve Maposa who took over last week after sudden resignation of erstwhile head coach Rodolfo Zapata. “We made some mistakes here and there but I’m happy with my players’ performance. They did well looking at the situation that they haven’t been training,” he said. “I didn’t have enough time to train with them but they did well, I mean we outplayed Rollers in the second half.”